Learn to choose the right backpack!

This very comprehensive and long article gives some really good advice on what to look out for when purchasing a backpack. It is a step by step guide (10 steps in all!), teaching you backpack types, capacity needs, pack features, loading design and shopping techniques.

Introduction

This article was originally sourced from Learn2 network in 1997 (with their permission of cos!) when it was still a free service. It is not free anymore though, what a pity... but at least this article still remains to see the light of day! Enjoy! Do check out their site at http://www.learn2.com

A Backpack: It's a house on your back.

There you are, scaling the lofty peaks of some noble mountain range. Gradually your mood begins to sour as the snazzy-looking, ill-fitting pack on your back starts to feel like a sack of potatoes. "But the industry polls said it was a great pack!" you protest.

If you'd like to avoid that scenario, do some research to find the pack that's right for you. No doubt, there is a backpack that will suit your torso length, backpacking plans, and budget. And after several days on the trail, you'll be glad you took the time to choose the perfect one. Then, as you walk under the sun and the stars, you won't even notice that house on your back.

Before you begin...

Obtain the catalogs for a number of outdoor retailers, such as REI, Campmor, and L.L. Bean, plus as many manufacturer brochures as you can get your hands on. (The cards in the binding of magazines such as Outside and Backpacker are a quick and easy way to request lots of consumer info). Also, many outdoor and camping magazines publish monthly and annual gear guides. Perusing these will give you an idea about what's in the marketplace. If you have friends, neighbors, and associates who backpack, ask for their opinion.

There are high-end brands that can set you back several hundred US dollars and K-Mart/Wal-Mart packs for US$30-50. There are vocal partisans for different brands and types of backpacking gear.

The type of trip you're planning will help to narrow your choices. Here is a range of possible outings:

An overnight in a campground. You probably only need a daypack for day hikes, if you can set up camp by your car.

A weekend on the trail, in an area with a temperate climate.

Five to seven days on a trail without any access to camping facilities or resupply.

A longer (10 days or more) trip, in areas where you need to carry your own water, or where you may encounter severe storms.

Look for packs that have features you need--and don't bother with the ones you don't. When everything's on your back, every ounce counts, and those special features can get heavy.

Step 2: Choose a frame design

In the outdoor recreation world, there's some fierce debate over the superiority of internal versus external frames. Some backpackers are loyal to internal frame backpacks; others think the traditional external frame is the only "real" pack.

Internal frame packs have their frame ( which is usually aluminum or graphite) built into the pack itself. Some folks insist that internal packs allow for greater maneuverability through tight spaces, and for greater stability on open faces--the pack fits your body's contours more closely.

External frame packs wear their frames on the outside, and the pack itself hangs from it. Externals tend to be less expensive and can distribute the weight of your pack higher on your shoulders, which makes the load easier to carry. Yet internal packs (the other kind) are currently the most popular, due to its greater maneuverability and, perhaps, the wishes of the outdoor recreation gear industry.

Step 3: Choose the pack capacity

How much you need to carry and how much you're willing and able to carry will determine the pack size you need. Packs are measured in cubic inches, but even this precise-looking measurement is interpreted differently among manufacturers. Some companies measure the volume of their packs by filling them to the brim with a substance, emptying the pack, and measuring the volume of the stuffing. Depending on the materials chosen, e.g. marbles or styrofoam peanuts, the capacity of the same pack will be measured differently. What does this mean? The c.i. numbers are good guidelines, but realize that 3,000 c.i pack of one company may be smaller than a 3,000 c.i. pack of another company.

For example, an average bookbag or daypack is usually 1200-1500 cubic inches (c.i).

If you're carrying a sleeping bag, you'll probably require a minimum of 3000 c.i. This size (and up to 5000 c.i.) is good for two to five-day hikes.

Backpacks for multi-week expeditions can get as large as 7000+ c.i.

Step 4: Choose a loading design

Again, there is lively debate on the virtues of each design, but the bottom line is the same--there's always a trade-off. Every good aspect has its negative result.

Top-Loading: Based on the traditional rucksack, top-loading packs have one big hole at the top. Pro: These are stronger and more moisture resistant than panel-loaders. Con: They require more careful packing than panel-loaders, both to balance the load and to make items easily accessible.

Panel-Loading: These have a large U-shaped front zipper, allowing access to more of the pack. Pro: You can find things faster, and don't have to pack as carefully. Con: You can't pack this as fully as a top-loading model, and zippers can fail.

Hybrid-Loader: The best of both worlds. Usually a top-loader with vertical side zippers.

Step 5: Choose a pack size

Everyone's torso is different, and it doesn't always depend on height. Choosing the pack with the right capacity and features and with a great price, is not a good deal if it's too long or short for your back. So measure your torso and hit the stores prepared.

To measure your torso accurately, you need a soft tape measure and some help. Stand straight with your legs shoulder length apart. Start measuring at the base of you neck, the 7th vertebra--it's the one that sticks out the most. Run the tape down your spine to the base of your hipbones, (or to your lowest vertebra, which is called C-17). Use your thumbs to find it. And now you've got your torso length.That's your torso length.

Most manufacturers classify 18 inches (38 cm) or less as a small size; 18 (38-43 cm) to 20 inches as a medium; over 20 inches (43 cm) a as large.

Note: a number of pack makers market packs designed specifically for women, but torso length is still a better gauge.

Step 6: Get your stuff together

By now you've a basic idea of what type of pack your looking for--but you've got to know how it feels with you're stuff in it. It's a little extra effort, but out on the trail you'll be very glad you've choosen the right size pack.

Fill a duffel with all the items you plan to take on your trip. Yes, the sleeping bag and pad. Yes, the stove and cookpots. Yes, your favorite fleece anorak. Yes, the water bottles, travel pillows, buck knives, jars of peanut butter, journals, and boots. Everything.

Visit a number of outdoor retailers, preferably stores with a wide selection and well-trained staff. Be certain that your salesperson is adept at measuring your torso length. Since you're an educated consumer, you've already measured your spine, but this is a good test of the sales staff. If they aren't prepared to measure your spine, they probably won't have much insight to offer. (At this point, just try the packs on; you don't have to pack them with your stuff.)

Try on many, many backpacks--but keep within your price range. Be sure the salesperson knows what you intend to spend. Don't even bother with brands over your budget. Conversely, give the less glamorous brands a fair shake. Don't be dazzled by fancy four-color advertisements or celebrity endorsements.

Some brands will immediately feel better than others. Forget about the ones that don't feel good, or suit your body shape--pack fit is idiosyncratic. Similar to shoe manufacture, some excellent pack brands are simply designed for backs different than yours. And like shoes, if it's not comfortable in the store, it'll be very uncomfortable on the trail. The final arbiter of what feels right is you.

Step 8: Load 'em up

By now you've narrowed your choices to a few packs that meet your fit and budget criteria--so it's time to load them.

You're going to try them on all over again, carrying the load you've planned for your trip. (If you've forgotten anything, ask the store to provide it).

How does it feel now? Work with the salesperson, asking them to make the fitting adjustments to improve the fit of the pack.

Two points to remember: There should be no room between your shoulder and the shoulder strap itself, i.e., it should lay flat. And the hip belt should ride high on your hips (but not over them). That's why it's called a hip belt, not a waist belt.

Then do it again. And again. Soon you'll narrow your choices even further.

Step 9: Write it down and shop around

Keep a list of the packs that feel the best, along with store names and prices. Shop around until you find the one that feels like an old friend the minute it's on your back. If you have the time, ordering from the manufacturer, an online catalog, or paper catalog, make save you a few bucks. However, it may be worth purchasing your pack in a retail outlet, where they can adjust the fit just right

Step 10: Take care of your pack

Backpacks are built to be sturdy, but a little common sense and TLC will keep them in good shape for years and years.

Keep your pack clean and dry. If you plan to backpack in rainy conditions, invest in a backpack cover that will keep your pack and your stuff dry. A wet sleeping bag and soggy food is sad event out on the trail. Remember, even the most water-resistant pack is not waterproof!

Clean and dry your pack completely when you return from each trip. Let it air out a bit before storing. If it's really filthy, scrub with soap, rinse with water, and air dry. Use a washing machine? No way! And don't hang or store it in the sun for extended periods, either. UV rays aren't good for nylon.

Extra Tips!!!

Keywords:

Cubic Inches: a standard of measurement for volume, e.g., the capacity of a pack.

Top-Loading: Based on the traditional rucksack, top-loading packs have one big hole at the top.

Panel-Loading: These have a large U-shaped front zipper, allowing access to more of the pack.

Hybrid-Loader: The best of both worlds. Usually a top-loader with vertical side zippers.

Make sure it fits! Choosing a pack with the right capacity and features, and with a low price tag, is not a good deal if it's too long or short for your back, or sits awkwardly on your shoulders or hips. For example, there should be no gap between the shoudler straps and your shoulders.

Avoid the extra stuff, for now. A lot of the backpack companies offer a number of modular add-ons you can use to customize your pack for various types of trips (e.g., water bladders, water bottle pockets, snow shovel pockets, snowboard pockets, ice ax lashes, etc.) Hold off on buying accessories until after your first trip (which you ought to make a short one, in case any problems arise). When you return, you'll have a more realistic idea of what's missing.